Fianna Fail has called for the Leaving Cert to be cancelled, arguing that uncertainty over whether and in what way the exams will go ahead is adding to ‘heightened anxiety’ among students. Pic: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie

In the statement, Mr Byrne complained about the lack of detail concerning the Leaving Cert contained in the Government’s stepwise plan, asserting: ‘Not once is the Leaving Cert mentioned. I believe this is a huge oversight and it has added to the already heightened anxiety among Leaving Cert students.’

The Meath East TD added: ‘Leaving Certs are essentially back where they started in March — unsure what the situation is, and whether the exams will be going ahead.

‘While this is a challenging time for everyone right now, it’s unfair to underestimate the stress and anxiety that Leaving Cert students are feeling as the uncertainty about their exams and their futures continues. The inequities inherent in self-learning online are well known.

Fianna Fail’s education spokesperson Thomas Byrnes has insisted that ‘the time has come to cancel the Leaving Cert and take the pressure off students, parents and their teachers’. Pic: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

‘I believe the Government cannot continue to adopt this wait and see approach with the Leaving Cert. It is becoming clearer with every week that passes that it is simply not tenable for it to proceed.

‘The time has come to make the call to cancel the Leaving Cert and take the pressure off students, parents and their teachers’.

Mr Byrne concluded by stating: ‘I’ve discussed alternatives with some universities and with Minister [for Education] McHugh over the last few weeks. They do exist and we must now switch our focus to them.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated on Friday that while schools and colleges will remain closed until the beginning of the new academic year in September, it is ‘still the plan’ to allow sixth years to return for two weeks of classes. Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

‘The current situation is unacceptable and unfair and is causing untold psychological damage to these students.’

Under current Government plans, the Leaving Cert is due to go ahead from Wednesday, July 29.

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